It is the teacher's job to point out mistakes so that an individual doesn't continue to hurt themselves or others.

In the West the wise are usually thought of as leaders. In the East, the wise are very often though of as followers.

Taoism is the gentle way. The path of least resistence.

There's a path in enlightenment called the path of negation where we intentionally throw ourselves into experiences that are extremely transient. In other words, we do all the stuff you're supposed to normally avoid to become enlightened, intentionally.

The Zen master can see precisely what it will take to cause your awareness to become free. But the Zen master can't do it for you.

As we grow up, we are exposed to hate and greed and anger and jealousy and peanut brittle and all kinds of things, our subtly body erodes.

I have graduate students who have developed this ability to love and want to perfect it. Those are the students I spend a lot of time with because at this time they need that.